CSG and mining landholder support project extended for another year

Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016

Queensland landholders can continue to access free assistance to better understand their rights and responsibilities regarding coal seam gas and mining, with a support project extended for 2016/17.

AgForce CEO Charles Burke said AgForce Projects had provided support to more than 5200 landholders through workshops, field days, information sessions and one-on-one assistance since the program first began in 2011.

"Coal seam gas and resource developments are an important issue for landholders and will continue to be into the future, which is why we are encouraging landholders to access this independent service – at no cost to them - while they still can," he said.

"With the coal seam gas industry moving from the construction phase into production, landholders may be under the impression they no longer need to remain informed about the industry," he said.

"However, with the number of wells in the Surat Basin expected to reach between 18,000 to 40,000 over the life of the industry and about 6000 production wells currently drilled, we strongly encourage landholders to remain aware of their rights and responsibilities.

"We want to ensure landholders are as informed as possible in order to protect their properties, their businesses and their livelihoods."

Brigid Price of 'Hillyvale' in the Arcadia Valley recently attended one of the Advanced CSG Negotiation Preparation workshops in Injune because she "wanted to be able to negotiate from an educated position".

"The assistance and advice was invaluable and we have been able to move forward and negotiate from a much stronger position as a result. We have been able to move past the feeling that the situation is not fair and now focus on what is a reasonable compensation," she said.

Mr Phipps said the Advanced Coal Seam Gas and Mining Negotiation Support workshops were a great opportunity for landholders to discuss their issues in depth, particularly if they are negotiating, have negotiated or are renegotiating a Conduct and Compensation Agreement (CCA).

"The first round of the 2016/17 workshops will be held in Injune, Chinchilla and Dalby (6,7 and 8 September) allowing landholders to hear the most up to date information regarding legislation updates, industry developments, groundwater impact predications and advice on how best to approach land access negotiations," he said.

The program is funded with the support of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) and the Queensland Resources Council.